The Kings began searching for defensive help after losing defenseman Donald Dufresne to the St. Louis Blues in Wednesday's NHL waiver draft. Dufresne, who was acquired from Tampa Bay for a sixth-round draft pick last March, was scoreless in nine games last season. He would have been the Kings' seventh defenseman, and his departure leaves them with no spares.

First-round draft pick Chad Kilger signed a three-year, $2.55-million contract with the Mighty Ducks Thursday night after his standout preseason made the deal almost a foregone conclusion. The No. 4 pick overall, Kilger came to camp without a contract but proved himself by becoming the Ducks' second-leading scorer during the exhibition season while playing on a line with left wing Paul Kariya. He had four goals and 10 points in eight games. "A lot of guys like to sit out.

Mighty Duck General Manager Jack Ferreira knew two weeks ago that he had little choice but to reach a deal with first-round draft pick Chad Kilger, who signed a three-year, $2.55-million contract Thursday night. His wife, Kathy, told him so in so many words. "I walked up to her after the Boston game and she didn't say, 'Good game,' or anything," Ferreira said. "She just said, 'You're going to sign Kilger, aren't you? You can't let him get away.' I knew I was in trouble. I knew had to sign him."

The uncertainty created by the NHL's new entry-level salary system has led the Mighty Ducks and the agent for No. 4 overall pick Chad Kilger to take a wait-and-see approach. "We're resolved to wait until the others determine what the market is," said agent Larry Kelly, though he added that he expects a deal by the end of the month. Though unsigned, Kilger is in camp and playing well after the Ducks made an irrevocable three-year, $2.

Paul Kariya is awaiting a new contract offer from the Mighty Ducks this week, and agent Don Baizley said Kariya then will have to wrestle with a decision--whether to sign or pursue an NHL ruling Baizley believes would make his client a free agent for the 1995-96 season if he sits out this season. The catch could end up being this: The league is declining to give a rules interpretation on a hypothetical situation, meaning Kariya might have to make a decision without knowing its repercussions.

The Mighty Ducks have made a dramatic bid to end their contract stalemate with Paul Kariya, improving their original offer by more than $1 million a year. Sources said the formal offer made Friday is a three-year deal worth at least $6 million--an average of at least $2 million a year, including signing bonuses.

The Mighty Ducks, still mired in a contract stalemate with 1993 first-round draft choice Paul Kariya, signed this year's first-round pick, Oleg Tverdovsky, on Monday--and quickly admitted they're trying to send Kariya a message. Tverdovsky, an offensively skilled defenseman who was the second pick in June's draft, became the first of this year's top picks to sign, agreeing to a three-year deal worth $4.2 million, including $2.5 million in signing bonuses.

The Kings will add another assistant coach and are talking with Tom Renney, who coached Canada's silver medalists in the 1994 Olympics. Renney, 38, has become a hot name and is scheduled to interview this weekend for the head coaching vacancy in Hartford. He said he has spoken with King General Manager Sam McMaster and Coach Barry Melrose. "Tom Renney is an outstanding prospect for coaching, and the Kings would love to have a person like Tom Renney on the coaching staff," McMaster said Thursday.

The prospects of defenseman Rob Blake remaining with the Kings are growing slimmer as he nears restricted free agency. He will become a free agent with compensation July 1. "No, I'm not confident he'll be back," General Manager Sam McMaster said in a conference call on Tuesday. "He's a concern. He's a great player. But if he's not back, the L.A. Kings will get something in return. "I want Rob Blake on the hockey team, don't get me wrong.

The Mighty Ducks will not make a contract offer to former King forward Lonnie Loach, who had 91 points last season for the Ducks' minor league affiliate, the San Diego Gulls, but appeared in only three games with the Ducks. Loach was playing out the option year of his contract, and although Duck General Manager Jack Ferreira has until July to make an offer, he says he will not do so.